pleasure, happiness, or goodness can be measured

Question 1

pleasure, happiness, or goodness can be measured

Answer 1

Mill’s argument that happiness is desirable rests on the assumption that we can observe what people desire and thus presumably have some measure of whether they are achieving these desires. Hence, on a crude level we may be able to have some measure of pleasure or pain.

Question 2

pleasure, happiness, or goodness can be measured

Answer 2

Preference versions of utilitarianism may avoid some of the difficulties of measuring pleasure as they would argue that overall utility/happiness lies in preference satisfaction. We may be able through surveys and other empirical research to ascertain the relative happiness of people in terms of achieving their life goals.

Question 3

pleasure, happiness, or goodness can be measured

Answer 3

As neuroscience advances it may be possible to measure happiness or pleasure in terms of observing what is happening in the brain during key moments. While we are perhaps some way off having portable brain scanners permanently attached to us, the existence of such technology would make measurement of pleasure possible.